Molecular mechanisms of Asparagus racemosus willd. and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal as chemotherapeutic adjuvants for breast cancer treatment.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Despite various treatment modalities, the progression and metastasis of breast cancer (BC) are grave concerns due to the alarming disease-free survival rate (DFS) and overall survival rate (OS) of affected patients. Over the years, many antibiotics, synthetic compounds, medicinal plant isolates and polyherbal combinations have been used as adjuvants in therapy for the management of primary and secondary tumors. Paclitaxel (PTX)-based chemotherapy for breast cancer causes multiple adverse side effects in patients.

Neutrophils display distinct post-translational modifications in response to varied pathological stimuli.

Neutrophils play a vital role in the innate immunity by perform effector functions through phagocytosis, degranulation, and forming extracellular traps. However, over-functioning of neutrophils has been associated with sterile inflammation such as Type 2 Diabetes, atherosclerosis, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Neutrophils exhibiting phenotypical and functional heterogeneity in both homeostatic and pathological conditions suggests distinct signaling pathways are activated in disease-specific stimuli and alter neutrophil functions.

Involvement of mitochondria in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and their potential as targets for phytotherapeutics.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia around the globe. The disease's genesis is multifaceted, and its pathophysiology is complicated. Malfunction of mitochondria has been regarded as one of the intracellular events that are substantially damaged in the onset of AD and are likely a common trait of other neurodegenerative illnesses.

Corrigendum: A combination of metformin and epigallocatechin gallate potentiates glioma chemotherapy .

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.

Decreased expression of CD200 on peripheral blood leukocytes in alcohol dependence.

Chronic alcohol use induces innate immune genes, which activate the innate immune system. Neuroimmune regulatory proteins [e.g.

A combination of metformin and epigallocatechin gallate potentiates glioma chemotherapy .

Glioma is the most devastating high-grade tumor of the central nervous system, with dismal prognosis. Existing treatment modality does not provide substantial benefit to patients and demands novel strategies. One of the first-line treatments for glioma, temozolomide, provides marginal benefit to glioma patients.

Understanding the effects of Abhraka Bhasma on genotoxicity and its DNA repair potential in mouse model.

Background: Metal toxicity is of major concern to human health. The metals may modulate molecular mechanisms of various pathways. Rasashastra, the branch of Ayurveda, narrates the properties, unique preparation, processing techniques, and therapeutic uses of minerals.

Human breast tumor derived endothelial cells exhibit distinct biological properties.

Background Information: Excessive angiogenesis characterized by leaky, tortuous, and chaotic vasculature is one of the hallmarks of cancers and is significantly correlated to poor prognosis. Disorganized angiogenesis leads to poor perfusion of anti-cancer drugs and limits access to immune cells. Hence, impeding angiogenesis is one of the attractive therapeutic targets to inhibit progression and metastasis in several solid tumors including breast.

Cytotoxicity and radiosensitizing potency of Moscatilin in cancer cells at low radiation doses of X-ray and UV-C.

Unlabelled: Moscatilin (stilbenoid) is a plant-derived anticancer compound, and it has mostly been isolated from threatened wild species. The present study attempts to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Moscatilin on several cancer cell lines through MTT assay. Additionally, it also aims towards estimating and comparing the radiosensitivity, cell-cycle progression, and apoptotic/necrotic effect induced by Moscatilin on different cell lines.

Metastatic suppression by DOC2B is mediated by inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and induction of senescence.

Senescence induction and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) events are the opposite sides of the spectrum of cancer phenotypes. The key molecules involved in these processes may get influenced or altered by genetic and epigenetic changes during tumor progression. Double C2-like domain beta (DOC2B), an intracellular vesicle trafficking protein of the double C2 protein family, plays a critical role in exocytosis, neurotransmitter release, and intracellular vesicle trafficking.

Identification of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE) as a Potent Neurodifferentiating Natural Compound That Improves Cognitive and Physiological Functions in Animal Models of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Cell-based screening of bioactive compounds has served as an important gateway in drug discovery. In the present report, using human neuroblastoma cells and enrolling an extensive three-step screening of 57 phytochemicals, we have identified caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) as a potent neurodifferentiating natural compound. Analyses of control and CAPE-induced neurodifferentiated cells revealed: (i) modulation of several key proteins (NF200, MAP-2, NeuN, PSD95, Tuj1, GAP43, and GFAP) involved in neurodifferentiation process; and (ii) attenuation of neuronal stemness (HOXD13, WNT3, and Msh-2) and proliferation-promoting (CDC-20, CDK-7, and BubR1) proteins.

Apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes in intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease: Implications to diagnostic differentiation.

Aim: Intestinal tuberculosis (ITb) and Crohn's disease (CD) mimic each other often leading to misdiagnosis. We evaluated the difference between ITb and CD using the extent of apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Methods: CD4 cells as a percentage of the lymphocytes and viable, dead, total apoptotic, early apoptotic, and late apoptotic CD4 cells were assessed in the peripheral blood by flow cytometry in healthy controls and patients with confirmed active ITb and CD prior to initiating therapy.

Prakriti phenotypes as a stratifier of gut microbiome: A new frontier in personalized medicine?

Ayurveda has a rich history and its significance woven deeply in the Indian culture. The concept of prakriti (a person's "nature" or constitutional type determined by the proportion of three doshas, namely - vata, pitta and kapha) in Ayurveda is deeply rooted in personalized health management. While the attributes of prakriti has been established to have a genomic basis, there is dearth of elaborate evidences linking prakriti with manifestation of diseases.

Interleukin-6-mediated epigenetic control of the VEGFR2 gene induces disorganized angiogenesis in human breast tumors.

Disorganized vessels in the tumor vasculature lead to impaired perfusion, resulting in reduced accessibility to immune cells and chemotherapeutic drugs. In the breast tumor-stroma interplay, paracrine factors such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) often facilitate disordered angiogenesis. We show here that epigenetic mechanisms regulate the crosstalk between IL-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signaling pathways in myoepithelial (CD10) and endothelial (CD31, CD105, CD146, and CD133) cells isolated from malignant and nonmalignant tissues of clinically characterized human breast tumors.

Reduced Serum Levels of Cluster of Differentiation 200 in Alcohol-Dependent Patients.

Aim: Chronic alcohol consumption can activate and dysregulate the neuroimmune system which leads to neuroinflammation. Neuroimmune regulatory proteins (NIReg) (e.g.

Pluchea lanceolata protects hippocampal neurons from endothelin-1 induced ischemic injury to ameliorate cognitive deficits.

Ischemic brain injury is one of the leading causes of death and disability, where lack of disease modifying treatment strategies make us rely on symptomatic relief. Treatment principles from traditional systems of medicine may fill this gap and its validation in modern medicine perspective is important to bring them to mainstream. Here, we evaluated the neuroprotective efficacy of Ayurvedic medicinal herb Pluchea lanceolata in treating ischemic hippocampal injury.

Interleukin-6 determines protein stabilization of DNA methyltransferases and alters DNA promoter methylation of genes associated with insulin signaling and angiogenesis.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) display vascular insulin resistance and decreased nitric oxide production leading to vasoconstriction and atherosclerosis. Soluble factors such as pro-inflammatory molecules, and various genetic and epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated to induce insulin resistance in vascular endothelial cells. Epigenetic mechanisms such as altered promoter DNA methylation have been demonstrated in development and progression of metabolic disorders and atherosclerosis.

Withania somnifera modulates cancer cachexia associated inflammatory cytokines and cell death in leukaemic THP-1 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC's).

Background: Cancer and inflammation are associated with cachexia. Withania somnifera (W. somnifera) possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

Centella asiatica modulates cancer cachexia associated inflammatory cytokines and cell death in leukaemic THP-1 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC's).

Background: Cancer cachexia is associated with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour potential.

Influence of Amalaki Rasayana on telomerase activity and telomere length in human blood mononuclear cells.

Background: Indian traditional medicine practices use defined rasayana preparations to improve the quality of life in aged individuals. Amalaki Rasayana is one such rasayana prepared from the fruits of Phyllanthus emblica and is popularly used to prevent or treat various age related health conditions. Telomerase activity in the cells maintains telomere length and is implicated in ageing and various diseases wherein the shortening of telomere during ageing is controlled chiefly by the telomerase activity.

Age dependent neuroprotective effects of medhya rasayana prepared from Clitoria ternatea Linn. in stress induced rat brain.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Indian traditional medicinal system in Ayurveda suggests several preparations, known as medhya rasayanas, of diverse plant origin to enhance the health in general, reduce stress and improve brain function in particular during ageing. These effects in the context of contemporary knowledge and the underlying mechanisms are not clearly understood. Autophagy and DNA damage induced repair are inter-related quintessential pathways and are significantly altered during stress and ageing.

Effect of Amalaki rasayana on DNA damage and repair in randomized aged human individuals.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Preparations from Phyllanthus emblica called Amalaki rasayana is used in the Indian traditional medicinal system of Ayurveda for healthy living in elderly. The biological effects and its mechanisms are not fully understood. Since the diminishing DNA repair is the hallmark of ageing, we tested the influence of Amalaki rasayana on recognized DNA repair activities in healthy aged individuals.

IM-133N modulates cytokine secretion by RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells.

An indigenous herbal extract IM-133N containing extracts of Prosopis glandulosa Torr and Symplocos racemosa Roxb were evaluated for potential immunomodulatory effects using RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells. The incubation of the cells for 24 h with IM-133N over a dose range 0-125 µg/ml did not cause cytotoxicity that exceeded 10%.

Significance of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene variants in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Indian population: an experimental, computational and meta-analysis.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) arises due to several genetic alterations in progenitor cells, and methotrexate is frequently used as part of the treatment regimen. Although there is evidence for an effect of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C variations on drug response in ALL, its risk association for ALL is still unresolved. In a case-control study of 203 patients with ALL and 246 controls and meta-analysis in the Indian population, we showed an insignificant association of MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotypes with childhood and adult ALL.

Immunophenotyping of normal individuals classified on the basis of human dosha prakriti.

Background: Human variations related to immune response and disease susceptibility is well-documented in Ayurveda. Prakriti (body constitution) is the basic constitution of an individual established at the time of birth and distinguishes variations, into three broad phenotype categories such as vata, pitta and kapha. Variation in immune response is often attributed to and measured from the difference in cluster differentiation (CD) markers expressed in lymphocytes.